Coping Mechanisms
Korra swiped her room key and gently opened her door being careful not to make too much noise as her guards were sleeping on the west wing of her suite. It was mid-night, her sinuses were clogged and eyes feeling puffy, all she wanted to do now was sleep and clear her head. As she began to enter her room she stopped at the sight of a figure crossing her peripheral vision.
"Rough time at the buffet?" Kuvira asked, her tone a little too sarcastic for Korra's mood at the moment.
"Not the time General." Korra replied under a harsh sniffle of her stuffy nose.
Kuvira passed by her having just existed the elevator and continued toward her room a few doors down. She was holding a large brown bag of take out from the hotels restaurant. "I was sure something was wrong as I didn't see you downstairs."
Korra clicked her teeth and shut her door in one swift motion. She turned to her old friend and crossed her arms angrily, uncaring if her eyes were red and dry making her look less intimidating than she'd like.
"You know, now I remember why I have White Lotus guards, to arrest stalkers like you."
Kuvira's shoulders dropped at Korra's now threatening tone, "I didn't mean any harm Korra." She raised her hand as if swearing to only tell the truth. "I'm just one curious little bird.." She muttered.
Korra walked up to her still guarded, "So what is it you want? I feel like you've been toying with me since you got here."
Kuvira faced her with her shoulders squared and brow slightly arched. Korra pissed off was suddenly becoming a favorite mood of hers. Her unyielding gall to challenge her was wildly attractive. However, that didn't mean Kuvira wasn't capable of shattering her "threatening" aura.
She stepped up to the Water-Tribe girl, dropping her gaze a few inches as Korra was slightly shorter. Her green eyes locked onto Korra's bloodshot blue disks with a confident glint.
"I want you."
Korra blinked, breaking their gaze. She looked down at her feet as she took a small step away scoffing out flustered words meant to be a complete sentence. "W-What? I-I'm actually being serious!"
Kuvira chuckled, "As am I, But I know better than to meddle in other people's relationships." She turned back to her hotel room door and swiped her room key, "and from the sound of it, Mako's treating you just right."
Korra froze, her breath stopping in her lungs.
As Kuvira's door opened Korra stormed inside grabbing the General by her collar and yanking her into her suite. As her door slammed shut Korra pushed her back against the hard wood with more strength than Kuvira knew she had.
"What do you mean." Korra yelled in a hushed tone.
"Jeez! I should piss you off more often," Kuvira gasped. She looked her up and down like this was some sort of playful foreplay. Korra wasn't threatening to her in the slightest but she could learn to enjoy some role reversal.
Korra tightened her grip, "Talk."
The General laughed again, "You know exactly what I mean, those salacious sounds from earlier were evidence enough." She looked away almost lost in the memory. "Im not often jealous but damn did I wish I were Mako."
Korra let her go with a defeated sigh and turned away as she felt her stomach drop into her gut. "How'd you find out?"
"Well, I had my suspicions but you just confirmed it."
"Shit" Korra muttered. She walked up to Kuvira's couch and plopped down into the cushions. Great, now another thing to deal with right now.
She placed a faint hand on her head fending off a coming headache, "Please don't tell anyone."
"Come on Korra I'm not a child." She replied earning a scowl from her blue-eyed companion. Kuvira sat down beside her and offered her a steamed bun from her take out box. "hungry?"
Korra didn't realize how famished she was until she saw the food now being offered to her. Maybe eating might calm her nerves. "Thanks"
"So what happened?" Kuvira asked. She noticed the slight puffiness of Korra's eyes and the irritable mood she was in which concluded her late night booty call didn't go ask planned.
"Nothing, just as always we ended up blowing up at each other and.." She stopped and huffed, "I don't want to talk about it." She took a big bite of the bun and hummed as the hot meat and vegetables filled her mouth.
"I wanna know..how you found out," She mumbled with a mouth full of partially chewed food.
"Well, I left you to join Bolin for his interview, I was about five minutes early so I lingered around the hallway and unbeknownst to you two. Closets are not sound proof."
Korra cringed, maybe Mako had a point when he mentioned the importance of in-home privacy.
"So when Bolin came to get his coat, you knew we were in there?"
Kuvira nodded while eating a pork bun nonchalantly.
Korra rolled her eyes. "I told him you had to of known! But why'd you save us?"
Kuvira shrugged as she silently thought to herself for a few moments, "Honestly, I don't know. I guess if I was in your position I'd want someone to do the same for me."
"Well, thank you, that would have been a lot to explain to Bolin." She cringed at the thought.
"So you're in a secret relationship with Mako. Where's the damage?" Kuvira asked.
"Well...that's not really the case." Korra finished her steamed bun and stepped off the couch, suddenly feeling a little hot in the face. As she saw Kuvira's expression light up she felt even more embarrassed.
"You don't mean...Oohhh! so you're fuck buddies!?" Kuvira leaped off the couch, "I can't tell if I'm more surprised at how kinky you are or Mako!"
"Don't say it like that!" Korra replied. "It sounds dirty.."
Kuvira laughed, "From the snippet I heard you two are filthy."
Korra walked over to her in-suite bar and took a seat on one of the large stools. "Ugh, why are you enjoying this! Aren't you engaged to what's his name? Opal's brother."
Kuvira walked behind the bar and pulled out a thick rectangular bottle with a brown liquid inside. "We're not together anymore."
Korra looked up at her apologetically, "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"No one does, it's not exactly public yet," She poured herself a glass on ice and offered Korra some but she refused.
Kuvira canceling her engagement seemed like the least likely thing in her "grand masterplan" to a productive life. She was always so sure of herself, her relationships, her career. It was interesting for Korra to learn even she had some downfalls, for once she was relatable.
"What happened? If you don't mind me asking?"
"You can't force someone to love you." She replied bluntly.
Korra didn't question a further explanation after hearing the change in Kuvira's tone that conveyed she didn't want to reveal more than that. Her words however, did offer some unwanted advice.
"hm" Korra hummed.
"What's with that look?" Kuvira asked.
"Well, I guess I can't force someone to be friends with me."
"Ahhh I see," She finally put all the pieces together that explained Korra's feud with Mako.
Korra looked to her friend and sighed, "So during our...time together I may have said something along the lines of how much I missed being with him. That didn't sit well and I went to apologize and suggest that maybe, if we were at least friends. Intimacy wouldn't be so scary."
The General took another drink and nodded, "Makes sense."
"Then I just, I got so frustrated with him. I know he's still beating himself up about something that happened years ago! Everyone has moved on and matured and can function like human adults and talk through their problems but he's just so-"
"Stubborn." Kuvira finished.
"Yes!" Korra beamed. She dropped her head in her hand letting a few strands of hair fall in front of her face. "I care too much about him to just be..."a fuck buddy", but that's what we agreed on."
Kuvira leaned forward over the marble counter and swiped Korra's hair from her face to behind her ear, "You can't make people change or mature. Trust me I've tried. People move at their own pace and you just..have to be patient and understanding."
Korra gazed up at her slightly surprised she said something along the lines of Master Tenzin level advice. A single tear fell from her lash and Kuvira swiped it away as it streamed down her cheek.
"I'm tired of being patient." She muttered. "Maybe...If I was his friend I wouldn't be so needy"
"It can't be helped," Kuivra looked at her friend sympathetically, "Sure you don't want that drink?"
Korra sat up silently debating if that was a smart idea, Kuvira only had the stronger of alcohols in her cabinet so she once again declined. "I don't think that'd be a good idea,"
Kuvira bit into her bottom lip, "I have a feeling that has something to do with him too?"
"Umm..It's a long story." Korra blushed.
Kuvira strolled around the counter and headed to her bedroom, "We've got all night,"
"It's almost 1 AM!" Korra shouted.
She turned and watched as Kuvira disappeared down the hallway and into her room. This was the first time she had such a personal conversation with her and she noticed even deep underneath her perfect exterior, Kuvira was happy for this too.
Korra wasn't planning on staying the night, God knows she needed the sleep, but she was more so eager to see where this goes.
"Wow...that's um, wow" Kuvira walked up to her bedroom mirror and adjusted the tie around the waist of her pajama bottoms. Korra had just finished telling her all the riveting details about how she managed to tie Mako down as her rebound boy and honestly Kuvira was mildly impressed.
"Pathetic I know." Korra groaned, throwing the blanket over her head in shame. She felt the left side of the bed dip down as Kuvira laid down beside her.
"It's not pathetic Korra." Kuvira sat up and rested her back against her head board as the blue-eyed girl poked her gaze out from under the covers skeptically. She was being way less sarcastic than usual and Korra was waiting for her to say something witty and slightly offensive.
"You're hurting...I think you both are and you're just finding ways to cope. Not everyone can be so noble all the time. Who makes the rules that say you have to be."
"And here I thought you to be the one who enforces said noble rules." Korra teased.
Kuvira forced a short laugh, "Yeah, maybe that's my problem."
Korra rolled over to face her and propped her arm up under her head, "So how are you coping?"
Kuvira looked away to her bedside table where her clock sat. She picked up the tiny device and wound a cog to set her alarm. "I work, it keeps me busy and I stay occupied on more important things"
"What a shitty way to cope," Korra replied.
The woman turned toward Korra and glared, "Well we can't all be as fortunate as you." She snapped.
Korra sat up in the bed confused with her sudden hostility, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Bolin, Mako, Asami, Tahno, you've never really been the one to hurt when it came to finding relationships or a person to screw. Korra you're beautiful, intelligent, athletic, caring, approachable. It doesn't take much for you to pull someone in, including me. Sorry my list of suitors isn't nearly as long. I can't fuck my problems away."
"Well, Im sorry that I see through your bullshit!" Korra scoffed, "You're not coping, you're hiding. You're a workaholic perfectionist that treats your relationships like technicalities. If it becomes too complicated you cut it off, just another weak-link right? You're just keeping yourself distracted and frankly becoming mechanical. This is probably the first time I've talked to you and you seemed somewhat vulnerable! Maybe you need to get laid!"
The Earth-kingdom General couldn't even look Korra in the face because then she would have to admit that she was right. Kuvira's hardened exterior left her mysterious and intimidating by many people. She never had a lot friends, most of them being co-workers, people forced to be around her. She was always so focused on bettering her life that being a people person wasn't a priority. People were always the obstacles getting in her way. So she pushed away potential relationships, ruined friendships, and is currently severing her connection to the one love of her life. A man she treated as more of an asset than a lover.
Kuvira was silent and Korra realized that maybe that came off a bit too harsh. "I'm sorr-"
"I cant afford to be vulnerable." She replied with her head held high elongating her neck and accentuating her protruding collarbones. She was born into this world and abandoned as a child, but instead of groveling and "coping" she pulled herself up and made a name for herself. Now she was molding better opportunities for an entire nation, she didn't have time to think about herself and her desires. Sure it was becoming a very lonely life, but it was a life she could live.
Korra rested her palm on top of Kuvira's hand softly with slight hesitation. She had never actually attempted to be intimate with her and needed to air on the side of caution.
"Well you can with me," She whispered.
Kuvira looked down at their hands, delicately intertwined, then up at Korra. Her green eyes were soft and slightly jaded as she gazed at her for what seemed like forever. Korra's breath caught in her lungs as Kuvira's hand slowly began to travel up her arm. Her green eyes never parting from her face as she leaned toward her.
"Can you show me?" She whispered, her voice never sounding as supple as it did right this very moment. Her hand caressed the side of Korra's face before reaching behind the cuff of her ear to thread through her short brown hair. Korra shivered as her nails lightly grazed her scalp, "Show me to cope in a different way.."
Korra's long lashes fluttered as she pitched forward and kissed her, shy at first as she wasn't so sure of how she should approach this. As the hand intertwined in her hair pulled her against Kuvira's face with a firm, authoritative grip Korra continued a bit more confidently. She pushed the comforter away and sat up on her knees keeping their lips connected as they moved closer to one another.
"Are you allowed to do this?" Kuvira whispered, obviously referring to her and Mako's current accordance. Which they both orally agreed that dating was on the table of possibilities.
Korra dismissed her question with a devious smile, "I can do whoever I want."
That was all her companion needed to hear. Kuvira may have been a bit timid to act but once she was given permission she immediately assumed the position of control that she was so accustomed to being. Her opposite hand cradled Korra's chin and guided her face to move within the rhythmic motion of her own. She loved to draw out each kiss to be long and purposeful. Each press against Korra's plush lips was accompanied with a firm bite or a sensual nip.
"Mmn" Korra groaned as their lips parted slightly to give themselves a moment to breath. Before she could process what they were doing, how far they would go, Kuvira's lips were already parting hers again, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip.
Maybe it was the nervous adrenaline of finally connecting with Kuvira or her slight fatigue limiting her energy but Korra was in absolute submission. She felt completely at ease and strangely comfortable letting Kuvira take the reins. Usually her and Mako would take turns being the more dominate but she knew before the physicality that there was no way Kuvira was ever a submissive type. Even so, Korra enjoyed allowing her teeth to bite into her skin, inviting her tongue to explore the inside her mouth, and guiding her hands to touch were she wanted.
They were sitting up on their knees, Kuvira's bent leg sandwiched between Korra's as their hands roamed each others forms. Korra was stunned at how careful and yet forceful Kuvira was. It oddly made her feel safe and susceptible to be open with her because she knew exactly what she was doing. Kuvira's hands left Korra's face and dragged down her chest, playing close attention to caress her clothed nipples before cupping the weight of her breasts in her hands.
Korra broke their kiss and gasped, her breathing now pitched and uneven. She looked up at Kuvira through her lashes trying to keep her composure even though her almond skin was so visibly red.
"Too much?" Kuvira asked. She was also slightly out of breath despite all the activities they have yet to do.
"No," Korra blushed, it wasn't that. She didn't want to say it out loud but she was nervous. Not the first time she's been with a woman but definitely a first with a woman like Kuvira. Everything seemed unexpected, which heightened the experience. This was a new person, a new body to explore and play with. Where did she want to grab? how did she want to caress? Korra found her self filled with nervous excitement which in turn aroused her so much more than she realized.
They resumed to a flawless rhythm that was lead by the dance of Kuvira's body as she pressed against Korra's form. She was so muscular and lean Korra loved the roughness of her skin and how firm she was to the touch. Her nails dragging along her back seemed to glide along the curve of her spine.
Kuivra wrapped her hands around the small of her waist and skimmed her palms just under the hem of Korra's shirt. She briefly dipped below the small of Korra's back to her ass where she happily groped and pinched along with the outside of her firm thighs. As much as the General enjoyed this, she was quickly growing irritated with the clothes separating them from being as close as she wanted.
Korra moaned into her mouth as her hips rocked forward, brushing her sex against Kuvira's knee that was still bent between her legs. She shuttered as the warmth below her belly button blossomed into a heat desired to be stroked into a burning flame.
"Ah!" She breathed, sucking in the urge to continue as she grinded against her again. Kuvira watched in amazement as that was one the most abstrusely sensual things she has ever witnessed someone do.
"Don't stop," She ordered, once she saw Korra's hesitation. She placed a firm hand on Korra's hip and pulled her up higher onto her lap. "Keep going."
Korra gleefully complied to Kuvira's demand. She rocked her hips against her thigh, trying to create as much friction between their layers of clothes and her clit as she possibly could. She hooked her right hand behind Kuvira's neck to help keep her balance as her muscles trembled. "Fuck."
Kuvira leaned back against the headboard and watched as Korra pleasured herself. Grinding her sex against her leg in such desperation it was mesmuerizing to watch. The muscles of Korra's thighs contracting as she pulled back, her abs flexing as she shifted her weight. Her round hips rolling in a sensual dance of pressure and release.
"You are incredible." Kuvira whispered. Her hand trailed under Korra's shirt, pressing into her tight muscles and smooth skin. Slowly she made her way up to her breasts paying close attention to every detail of her body. As she squeezed her breast Korra clasped her hand ontop of Kuvira's holding her there as she leaned forward, craving her lips again.
Korra could barely keep still as they kissed, her body shaking from how tightly coiled her nerve-endings were. She was wet and needy now, yearning for more than just heavy petting and lustful grinding. Kuvira picked her up by her waist and laid her down on her back with her legs open and wide. Korra sucked in a deep breath as her eyes squeezed shut. They were progressing forward, this was okay, everything felt...okay.
Kuvira bent over feeling the heat of her body as she traveled between her thighs. The General kissed the bend of her neck noticing how quickly Korra's heart was racing. Korra groaned again, her cheeks stained the color of roses as her breathing escaped her lips in uneven gasps.
"Ah!" She mewled as Kuivra suckled her throat, not parting until a dark spot reminded in the place where she had been. Kuvira was amazing, this all felt amazing, and yet overwhelming as it was all so intense. Korra's mind, deep behind her lustful wants was painting an image of the person she wanted to see and it wasn't who she needed it to be.
Kuvira's right hand traveled down past her naval to the junction between her legs, the warmth of her body heat welcoming her tough. Korra tried to stopped from imagining him, she tried to stay in the moment and enjoy what she had been fantasizing about since college but it was too late. His hazel eyes were burned at the forefront of her thoughts and she couldn't shake them.
Before she could press the pad of her fingers into desired places Korra quickly grabbed her wrist. Kuvira stopped and looked up at her surprised.
Korra took a few moments to breath before she spoke. Her body wanted something her mind didn't and she was inwardly warring with herself on which to choose. She also didn't want to betray the trust she had just built with Kuvira by spoiling what they had started.
"I..I'm starting to think it's best we stop here." Korra breathed. Kuvira's intense gaze softened as she searched Korra's eyes for any sigh of discomfort or regret. She seemed to have wanted this just as much as she did.
"Hmm I see" She groaned. Kuvira dropped her head and nodded, of course this was too good to be true.
"No no, it's not like that!" Korra lifted Kuvira's chin so she could see the sincerity on her face. "Trust me...I want this" Kuvira smirked as she saw her blush at the confession.
"I just can't clear my head with what's going on with Mako," Korra shook her head in disbelief that her consciousness would act up in a time like this. But then again, this very thing happened earlier when Mako couldn't get it up. She guessed the mind was indeed a powerful tool when it came to cock-blocking.
"And I'm so behind on my paperwork for the FireNation embassy that I'm meeting with in two days," Kuvira realized that random tidbit was Korra about to progress into one of her fits of rambling and she need to act fast.
"and really I haven't seen you in years, we haven't even gone a date yet-"
"Korra," Kuvira tried to inturrupt.
"Sex is great but honestly so is just sitting and talking or going to see a movie-I dont want to rush things..."
"Korra-"
"And to be even more honest Im exhausted." Korra fell back against the cushion and looked up at the ceiling.
"Korra shut up, it's okay" Kuivra sat back on her heels and took a deep breath. Not really how she expected this night to end but she wasn't upset.
"Sorry" The water-tribe girl laughed softly before settling back down into her thoughts. "But I really enjoyed this, I needed to talk to someone who was going to be brutally honest with me."
"Likewise," Kuvira replied.
Korra sat up as her friend rearranged the blankets and settled underneath them for bed. She joined her under the covers and for the first time that night, truly rested.
Kuvira rolled over so that she could face Korra and moved close enough to steal one more kiss goodnight. They held there for a few seconds savoring the moment before breaking away. "And one more thing, stop me again like that and you'll regret it."
Korra's eyes opened in surprise but softened when she saw a sly smirk curve the corners of Kuvira's mouth. She couldn't help but ponder what carnal punishments her General would have in store.
"Duly noted."
-O-
The following morning Mako walked into the dining hall and promptly met up with the others. He was dead tired having been up all night in a restless fit. Needless to say his conversation with Korra ending in tears left him feeling less than at ease.
He took his seat and gave his breakfast order to the attendant. He straightened the cuffs of his jacket as everyone greeted him with half-tried "goodmornings". Mako scanned the table to see there was a vacant seat from the one person he needed to see.
"Where's Korra?" Mako asked.
Kuvira halted the next bite of her pancake, watching Mako closely.
"She decided it'd be best to sit with her uncle and the rest of her tribe." She bit down on her fork and watched as Mako's face fell into a disappointed frown.
He looked around and saw Korra across the room mingling with her family. Her hair was curled away from her face and pinned into a bun. Her dress draped off her shoulders and cinched at her waist. As beautiful as she looked he noticed she was wearing more makeup than usual and he realized probably to hide evidence of her crying from last night.
He looked down at his food as it was placed in front of him feeling terrible. He truly let the actions of his teenage angst dictate the possible rekindle of his relationship with Korra in the present.
He could begin the process of becoming the man she believes he is. Instead of letting his past keep him from moving on. Admittedly he was afraid of ever hurting her again, but last night proved he was already do so.
"What's got you?" Bolin asked. "Foods not that bad."
Mako forced a chuckle, "it's not that. Just a lot on my mind."
His gaze trailed to Korra again, she was aimlessly picking at her food. He could tell she'd rather be sitting with them than listening to her uncle lecture continuously while his twins monotone demeanor dampened her mood.
"You wanna share with the class?" Kuvira asked.
Mako glanced over at her surprised at how invested she was with him. She was usually not so considerate to offer her advice.
Oblivious to him, she already knew what troubled his little mind and that more importantly, Korra wasn't mad at him in the slightest.
"I've disappointed someone and I'm trying to find ways to amend." Mako replied.
Bolin's brows perked as he hoped he was referring to a certain Water-tribe girl.
"Depends on the severity of the disappointment.." She replied.
"Detrimental."
"Hmm," Kuvira cooed, secretly enjoying this. "Might I suggest coming to a compromise."
"I think we tried that,"
"I meant with yourself," She corrected.
Mako paused, that was definitely a new approach.
"Look, clearly you're at war with yourself. If you can't stick to one side simply erase that barrier and push yourself out of your comfort zone."
"But I'm afraid-"
"That's the point, face your fears detective. I'm not asking you to make a complete 180, but taking that first step is necessary."
Mako nodded, absorbing her words as regrettably she was right. His fight with Korra last night just made him realize that he might not believe he was the man she desired, but he could at least begin to try. If he ever wanted to keep from loosing her again.
Bolin sat eating his breakfast and listened to his brother be lectured in complete awe. Kuvira was such a strong woman, so intelligent and a natural leader. He was so excited to join her in Be Sing Se.
Kuvira leaned forward, "Im sure the person you're trying to appease," Her eyes glanced over her shoulder toward Korra then back to Mako, "Would appreciate it"
She sat back in her chair and took a drink of her black coffee, "You might even surprise yourself Mako,"
"You seem very sure of yourself General, almost as if you know-"
"I do." Kuvira replied bluntly. Mako narrowed his gaze trying to deduct if she was bluffing. As they both sat their glaring at one another Bolin broke the tension, "Uhh is there something I don't know about?"
"No!" They both replied realizing they were among the company of people who really shouldn't be aware of what they were talking about.
"Thank you General Kuvira, I might actually take your advice." Mako concluded sounding a bit sarcastic but effectively changing the subject.
"I'd hope so." She replied.
"Oh it's 9:30, we should probably head over to City Hall now," Bolin replied. They began to gather their things and in Mako's case scarf down the rest of his food. As others began to leave their empty trays and half eaten food Korra stood up from her table and headed over toward them. At the sight of her approaching Mako jumped up in his seat with his mouth full of food and eyes wide.
"Hey Korra!" Bolin exclaimed.
"Hey! Good morning guys." She quickly scanned the table letting no one feel excluded from her greeting. Including Mako who gazed up at her like she was coming to give him another argument. "Sorry I didn't sit with you, my uncle would have thought I was being rude if I didn't sit with them." She rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry about it," Bolin replied.
The water-tribe girl then turned to Kuvira, her eyes batting as she smiled. "We're still on for tonight right?"
Kuvira nodded with a smug expression as Mako looked at her bewildered, "Of course, my last meeting ends at six."
"I'll see you at 8 then," Korra beamed before returning to meet with her guards who waited patiently at the entrance.
Bolin turned to Kuvira in shock, "You and Korra! Since when!?"
Kuvira's gaze met Mako briefly as she replied, "Last night, we just had... a lot to talk about."
Mako coughed as the food in his mouth knotted in his throat as he tried to swallow it. She knew, and apparently Korra told her..
"Ooo!" Bolin teased. He stood and threw his jacket over his arm as he straightened his shirt and pressed pants for any unwanted wrinkles. Kuvira stood up as well, chuckling at Bolin's gossipy excitement. "We're just friends Bolin."
They walked away but not before Bolin realized Mako wasn't following, Kuvira on the other hand couldn't care in the slightest. "You coming Bro?" Bolin yelled.
"I'll catch up!" Mako replied, stabbing his breakfast that was somehow far less flavorful than before.
I'm toying with the idea of a Korra/Kuvira sex scene or even more so, Mako/Korra/Kuvira. If you're wondering how that threesome would work, have faith and let me know what you'd like to read ;) - Kurocache